Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
According to a Washington File report, the Treasury Department has found that no major U.S. trading partner manipulated its currency in the last six months of 2003 to gain unfair competitive advantage or prevent balance of payment adjustments. Treasury's report also reiterated the U.S. position endorsed by major industrialized countries that a pegged exchange rate policy is not appropriate for a major economy such as China. (Washington File Pub 04/16/04, available at http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2004&m=April&x=20040416122714SAikceinawz4.645938e-02&t=livefeeds/wf-latest.html)
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1. Treasury Reports No Major Trade Partners Manipulated Currencies, China's Pegged Exchange Rate is Not Appropriate
2. State Dept Waives GSP Suspension for Serbia & Montenegro
The State Department has waived the suspension of GSP duty-free benefits for Serbia and Montenegro that was implemented by the National Defense Authorization Act, 1994 (Public Law 103-160). State Department sources explain that due to this waiver of P.L. 103-160, the Trade Policy Staff Committee is expected to conduct a review to determine if Serbia and Montenegro meet GSP eligibility criteria, a process which could take several months. (Public Notice 4673, FR Pub 03/26/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-6820.pdf)
3. $422,000 Fine on Roper Scientific for Illegal Export of Night Vision Cameras
The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has issued a press release announcing that Roper Scientific, Inc. of Trenton, NJ has agreed to a $422,000 civil penalty to settle charges that it exported night vision cameras to numerous countries, including South Korea, Japan, and Italy, without the required export licenses, in violation of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). According to BIS, Roper was also charged with failing to retain certain export control documents and making false statements on a Shipper's Export Declaration (SED). (BIS press release, dated 04/15/04, available at http://www.bis.doc.gov/News/2004/NJCompanySettles4_15.htm)
4. ITA Announces Establishment of Manufacturing Council
The International Trade Administration (ITA) has issued a notice announcing the establishment of The Manufacturing Council, an advisory committee that will provide oversight and advice regarding implementation of the President's Manufacturing Initiative that was announced January 16, 2004. (FR Pub 04/14/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-8415.pdf)
5. US&FCS Notice of Available Office Space at Shanghai USCC
The United States and Foreign Commercial Service (US&FCS) has issued a notice encouraging U.S. government agencies, U.S. state and local agencies, and U.S. private organizations which seek to promote U.S. exports, especially U.S. Development Cooperator entities, to inquire about available office space at the Shanghai U.S. Commercial Center (USCC) for the period of May 2004 to June 2005. Inquires must be submitted on or before April 19, 2004. (FR Pub 04/14/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-8408.pdf)
6. OFAC Issues Amended General License Regarding Travel to Libya
The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has issued an amended general license for travel to Libya in order to clarify that the booking of travel to or from Libya for U.S. persons by U.S. travel service providers is authorized, whether such services are prohibited by 31 CFR 550.207 or 550.203. However, other transactions prohibited by 31 CFR 550.203, including code sharing, remain prohibited. (OFAC notice, dated 04/02/04, available at http://www.ustreas.gov/offices/eotffc/ofac/actions/20040402pm.html)
7. Hypertext Updated in FDA's Report on Potentially Hazardous Foods
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently updated the hypertext in its report entitled "Evaluation and Definition of Potentially Hazardous Foods," which is dated December 31, 2001. (FDA report, hypertext updated 04/13/04, available at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/comm/ift4-toc.html)
8. FMC Lists Applicants for OTI Licenses
The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has issued a notice stating that the following companies have filed applications for license as non-vessel operating common carrier (NVOCC), ocean freight forwarder (FF) or NVOCC/FF ocean transportation intermediaries (OTIs):
NVOCC-OTIs
Transexpress, Inc. (FL)
Evergreen International Group, LLC (CA)
JX Global, Inc. dba GFX Logistics Group (CA)
C & F Worldwide Agency Corp. (PR)
Ampact Transline, Inc. (CA)
Aras International, Inc. dba Umac Express Cargo Of San Diego (CA)
Timothy E. Granderson (U.S. Virgin Islands)
Orion Transport Corporation (CA)
I-Dream S & A, Inc. (CA)
Dolphin Express Inc. (NJ)
Wonder Shipping Line Inc. (CA)
Transportes Zuleta, Inc. (FL)
FF-OTIs
Interlink Logistics & Management Inc. (FL)
Carex Shipping LLC (NV)
Spirit International Transport, Inc. (IL)
NVOCC/FF-OTIs
SWT Shipping USA Inc. (CA)
Caribbean Travel Agency Inc. & Cargo, dba Ferrons W.I. Shipping Co. (CT)
AMF Global Transportation (IL)
AME Logistics LLC (NY)
Reliable International Logistics, Inc. (CA)
Delta Wholesale Trading Corp. IV, dba Delta Cargo Logistic (LA)
FMC notice (FR Pub 04/14/04) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-8475.pdf